“Fascism is not defined by the number of its victims, but by the way it kills them.” — Jean-Paul Sartre

Hindutva, the concept of RSS is a political stuff different from Hinduism that is the faith pursued by majority of Indian since times immemorial. Let it be known that RSS (Rashtriya swayamsevak sangh) is a Right-wing organization born in 1925 in India with birth cry of Hindutva (Hindu Nation). It has come to assume an unusual significance in the country after BJP under PM Modi assumed power in 2014. This ruling outfit considered to be the political arm of RSS steadily but surely has started towing India towards its goal of Hindu Rashtra against wishes of Minority communities, secular and rationalist element in society.

If Hindutva refers to religious exclusiveness of India, Hinduism is more like an inclusive, liberal and secular way of life there than a faith. Before we talk little about these matters let us have a look at some of the disturbing events that took place under BJP regime whose leader Narendra Modi, a known RSS cadre won federal poll on country’s development plank, but is destined to rule India under its secular and democratic constitution. This basic contradiction between the rulers and the rules they’re expected to follow is not clear to large number of rookie BJP law makers and ministers who think time to convert India into a Hindu Nation has arrived and have become intolerant to any opposition whatsoever.

A Nasty Happening  

Any reasonable and rational voice raised democratically by writers, intellectuals or liberals against rulers’ intolerance towards, minorities, Dalits (low Caste in society) and political opponents is noisily termed as anti-national. It has happened number of times but here we would mention the recent incident in which sedition charges were impishly slapped on some of the students of Delhi’s JNU (Jawahar Lal Nehru University) because they expressed their opinion against capital punishment, in line with vision of Dr. Ambedkar the architect of Indian constitution. While holding a rally within university campus, student leaders in that backdrop along with their issues also condemned hanging of Mohammed Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri separatist convicted over the 2001 Indian Parliament attack.

Soon thereafter doctored videos of kanhaiya kumar, President of Student union showing him raising anti-national slogans were circulated by various amenable TV channels. That followed complaints by Maheish Girri a BJP Member of Parliament  and the RSS student wing ABVP and kanhaiya kumar and others were arrested on sedition charged under IPC (Indian Penal Code). RSS affiliates called JNU a den of terrorists and their Shrieks to close the university became violent and louder.

They didn’t stop at that and decided to punish kanhaiya kumar themselves before judiciary gave any verdict. Being brought to a Delhi court under police custody in connection with charges against him, he was rebuked and thrashed in court premises by number of Pro BJP Lawyers. Journalists and media persons including female ones present there were also manhandled. The incident recorded in video clips has been watched by people at large online. Police didn’t stop them! Federal government failed to round up ruffians immediately.

Mr. Kumar was however, released on interim bail on 2 March 2016, since no evidence of his taking part in anti-national slogans has been presented by the police.

BJP’s Duplicity

It is Ironic that at a time when the government has cracked down on the JNU, and put student leaders behind bars for calling Afzal Guru’s hanging as sham justice, PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), BJP’s ally in Jammu and Kashmir, still holds a view that Afzal Guru’s hanging was “a travesty of justice.” They have told media they wont “deviate” from demanding Guru’s mortal remains, nor will they stop questioning the legal grounds of his hanging. Negotiations to form coalition government with PDP in J&K are in full swing these days. There is nothing bad about it but it brings BJP’s opportunism to the fore.

For the sake of power, BJP is willing to be friend with those who time and again have questioned legality of Afzal Guru’s hanging but ruling party put student kanhaiya kumar behind bars under treason charges for saying that.

Desh Premi or Desh Drohi

Reinvigorated by government’s inaction and PM Modi’s silence over their violent acts, the members of Saffron brigade have often stormed streets and localities and disturbed peace and communal harmony in the country as they wished. So many villages, towns, cities and persons much before JNU incidence, were targeted by those ferocious mobs. They triggered Communal violence in Muzzafarnagar and Killed a Muslim in Dadri in UP on rumor of his beef eating are some incidents too tragic to recall. They care too hoots for decency or civility anywhere. May that be Delhi court premises or alleys roads in towns and cities of India, with India’s National Flag in their hands and with their full throated cries of ‘Baharat Mata Ki Jai”, (Victory to India) they declare themselves Desh Premi (patriot) and opponents Desh Drohi (Traitor).

Cow has taken precedence over all other species of life in India and concept of Hindutva over constitution of India!

BJP’s Predicament

Though hullabaloos and tumults are not new to Indian landscape yet never before constitution of the country came under that much threat at the hands of those who are under oath to protect it. Present crop of Ruling Parity’s Law makers, Ministers, provincial and federal as well the state governors feel uncomfortable particularly with its preamble that label India as a Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and was an obstacle to achieve goal of Hindu Rashtra (Nation). Besides Indian constitution, these bigwigs owe spiritual allegiance to RSS an organization that was never drawn closer to struggle for India’s freedom from British colonial yoke waged together by Indians of all races, religions and regions. That struggle envisioned ‘India for all Indians’ a concept diametrically opposed to “Hindustan for Hindus” concept of RSS. They preferred a Hindu Nation rather than a free nation. This is their Hindutva. This is their greatest predicament!

But to convert Secular India into a Hindu State is easy said than done for RSS or its affiliates. BJP needs more number of seats in two houses of Parliament as well as plethora of provincial legislatures in their basket to amend constitution to delete Secular clause democratically. Opposition though weak and divided is trying to stand up against BJP Juggernaut. After its grand success in federal polls in 2014 BJP has lost miserably in Delhi and Bihar provincial polls. Soon three more provinces are heading towards polls. Indians watch future of India with fingers crossed.

(To be continued)